Preparing for Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, now is the perfect time for preparing your home for guests. Doing so enables you to stress less on the holiday, which means you can enjoy yourself.
Use these tips for preparing your home over the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. That way, you won’t feel overwhelmed, and you definitely won’t forget anything. The year that you hosted Thanksgiving might just be remembered as the perfect family celebration.
1. Make a Grocery List – and Don’t Forget the Turkey!
Start planning your menu now so that you’ll have all of the ingredients you need on the big day. If you’ll be using any new recipes, do a test run now so you’ll be prepared for any alterations you may have to make.
Take out all the recipes you’ll be using, even the ones that you think you have memorized, so you can use them to make a grocery list. Don’t rely on your memory when it comes to recalling whether or not you have ingredients. Check out the cupboards to verify that you have items on hand before you decide not to add them to your list.
If you’ll be ordering a turkey from a butcher or other supplier, don’t hesitate to get it done now. You’ll be much more likely to get the right-sized bird for your crowd.
2. Be Ready for Guests
You want your guests to feel welcome and at ease, and preparing your home is essential for this. Do some deep cleaning now, and try to maintain that level of clean through the holiday. Stock extra toilet paper in all the bathrooms, making sure that soap and hand towels are also available. Clear out your entry closet for your guests’ coats or have another spot designated where people can securely set aside anything they bring.
If you’ll be having overnight guests, now is the time to wash the sheets and make certain that everything is fresh and ready to be used. Stock up on towels so you don’t run short.
3. Get Your Oven Ready
If your oven is on its last legs, now may be the time to replace it. Ovens that are still in good working order may need to be cleaned before doing battle with a turkey. Run the self-cleaning cycle a couple of weeks before the holiday or just wipe it down if the day is drawing near. Sometimes, that self-cleaning function stresses the stove, causing a breakdown when you least expect it.
4. Prepare for Leftovers
Leftovers go with Thanksgiving like Santa goes with Christmas. Make certain that you have appropriate containers for everything from turkey and stuffing to gravy and pie. Go through your collection and get rid of any plastic containers that aren’t in good shape. Just as importantly, clean out the fridge to get rid of any old food items so you’ll be able to store the yummy leftovers.
5. Make a Black Friday List
The night before Thanksgiving, sit down with the Black Friday ads so you can make a list of all the can’t-miss bargains. Black Friday is the official start of the holiday shopping season. Being prepared for it can help you score budget-saving deals.
6. Relax and Enjoy
Sometimes, you’re so busy preparing your home for Thanksgiving that you forget it’s supposed to be fun. Now that you’ve done all the work, it’s time to enjoy time with your family and friends.
